Nature Happenings

• Painted Buntings, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles begin to arrive.

• Young are born in nursery colonies of bats.

• The Dawn Chorus begins. Be sure to listen for the early morning natural serenade.

• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies fly May-September, two flights.

• Red-headed Woodpeckers are nesting. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are incubating.

• Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches are incubating eggs and are less likely to be at feeders.

• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, nighthawks, Wood Thrushes, Veerys and Chimney Swifts return.

• House Wrens return. They may come in late April (earlier in south) if spring is warm.

• Sub-adult Purple Martins return to establish new colonies early in the month.

• Nesting materials are being collected.

• Eta Aquarids meteor shower is early-May.

• International Migratory Bird Day is mid-May.